Damaged pipes cause flooding as region thaws from cold snap

Damaged pipes cause flooding as region thaws from cold snap

Damaged pipes cause flooding as region thaws from cold snap

Jan. 09, 2018

https://www.apnews.com/be6b2735562e45e3b026053f5fe87803

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The thawing in the wake of last week's regional deep freeze has led to a spate of burst water pipes.

Richmond Fire Department Capt. Earl Dyer told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Monday his department had responded to more than 78 calls involving broken pipes since Monday morning. He said pipes can burst and split when frozen water expands. The full extent of the damage is revealed when temperatures warm and water starts to flow again.

Public utilities in Richmond and Henrico County tackled repairs to around a dozen water mains, including one on an overpass that flooded four lanes of Interstate 95, below.

Richmond's Department of Public Utilities spokeswoman Angela Fountain said, with water mains, the pipes didn't freeze, but fluctuating temperatures had caused the ground to contract and swell.